Austin's Urban Forest Plan, adopted in 2014 and updated in 2024, sets a 50 percent citywide canopy cover goal, paired with cool-roof requirements, shaded transit stops, and bus stop greening to mitigate the urban heat island effect across the city.
Austin's Urban Forest Plan was adopted by City Council Resolution 20141009-046 and is administered by the City Arborist within the Development Services Department. The plan targets 50 percent canopy cover citywide, prioritizes equity by directing tree planting and protection investments to historically under-canopied Eastern Crescent neighborhoods, and integrates with Land Development Code Subchapter B tree-protection rules. Heat-island companion strategies include cool-roof requirements in Austin Energy Code, shade structures at CapMetro stops, cool-pavement pilots, and mandatory shade trees in commercial parking lots over a threshold size. The 2024 update added intensified climate vulnerability targeting and aligned the plan with the Climate Equity Plan's net-zero 2040 trajectory.
Removing protected trees without a permit triggers fines up to $2,000 per day and replacement requirements under Austin Land Development Code Section 25-8-621. Failing to install required parking-lot shade trees blocks certificate of occupancy.
See how Austin's heat island mitigation rules stack up against other locations.
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